A man accused of leading a lengthy law enforcement chase this past spring is set for a hearing Friday in Lyon County District Court.
Joshua Forero, 24, is formally charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer, flee and elude and other counts.
Forero stands accused of driving away from Emporia Police after a suspicious van was reported in the Dollar Tree parking lot. Officers say they smelled burned marijuana inside and tried repeatedly to get Forero out of the van before he drove off, nearly running over one officer and cutting another officer after a window was broken out. Officers then gave chase through northwest Emporia and then on Interstate 35, joined by Coffey County deputies and Highway Patrol troopers, until Forero crashed in Franklin County.
Forero has a pretrial hearing at 2 pm Friday. This is typically the hearing where potential trial dates are set.
